'i.fi^.lO, 


^  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  ^ 


Presented    by  O^^ .  (5\  .  Cj  ^ytacS  VOrA  7^\-^  -"D , 


Division ".. 

Section  


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,«.■! 


> 


SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 


LECTURE    IV. 


Delivered  on  the  Evening  of  the  22d  January,  1822,  by  the 
Rev.  Alexander  JSrFarlane,  of  Carlisle. 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 


Therefore  put  away  from  among  yourselves  that  wicked  person. — 
1  Cor.  V.  13. 

A  man  that  is  an  licrctic,  after  tlic  first  and  second  admonition,  reject — 
Tit.  iii.  10. 

The  Church  of  God  is  a  regularly  constituted  society, 
possessing  laws  and  government,  adapted  to  secure  her  purity 
and  permanence,  and  to  manifest  and  vindicate  the  honour 
of  her  Lord.  The  glorious  Mediator,  being  exalted  to  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high,  and  having  received  all 
power  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  promulgates  laws  and  in- 
stitutes ordinances,  establishes  government  in  his  Church, 
and  appoints  officers  for  its  administration.  "  And  he  gave 
some  apostles;  and  some  prophets;  and  some  evangelists; 
and  some  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting  of  the 
saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ."  The  language  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  ad- 
dressed at  first  to  his  apostles,  applies  in  a  subordinate 
sense  to  all  the  ministers  and  rulers  of  the  Church;  "  What- 
15 


106  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

soever  ye  shall  bind  on  earth,  shall  be  bound  in  heaven: 
and  whatsoever  ye  shall  loose  on  earth,  shall  be  loosed  in 
heaven."  The  pastors  and  elders  were  authorized  and  re- 
quired, by  divine  institution,  to  teach  and  to  rule  in  the 
Churches,  "Take  heed,  therefore,  unto  yourselves,"  says 
the  apostle  Paul  to  the  elders  of  Ephesus,  "and  to  all  the 
flock  over  which  the  Holy  Spirit  hath  made  you  over- 
seers."  "The  elders  which  are  among  you  I  exhort,"  says 
the  apostle  Peter,  "feed  the  flock  of  God  which  is  among 
you,  taking  the  oversight  thereof."  On  the  other  hand, 
the  people  were  required  to  render  obedience  and  honour, 
to  those  appointed  to  rule  over  them.  "Obey  them  that 
have  the  rule  over  you,  and  submit  yourselves."  "Let 
the  elders  that  rule  well,  be  counted  worthy  of  double  hon- 
our, especially  they  who  labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine." 
In  every  society,  government  of  some  kind  is  indispens- 
able. No  community  can  exist  among  men  without  laws, 
and  an  adequate  power  to  put  them  in  execution.  What 
would  become  of  the  family  circle,  sacred  to  order  and 
harmony,  if  the  parental  authority  were  prostrated  ?  How 
could  public  tranquillity,  or  private  security,  be  maintained, 
if  none  were  empowered  to  assert  the  inajesty  of  the  laws? 
The  Church  is  distinguished  from  other  societies,  not  by 
being  without  law  and  government,  but  by  possessing  them 
from  divine  appointment.  The  Lord  Jesus  has  ordained 
ofiicers  in  his  Church,  whose  duty  it  is  to  teach  and  to  rule; 
to  make  known  the  laws  of  his  kingdom,  and  to  secure 
their  observance  by  all  its  subjects.  The  government  of 
the  Church,  therefore,  is  established  by  the  wisdom  and 
authority  of  her  glorious  head;  and  whatever  acts  are  done 
according  to  the  instructions  which  he  has  given,  receive 
his  sanction  and  ratification. 


OF  CHLTRCII  DISCIPLINE.  IO7 

But  here  perhaps  it  may  be  inquired,  is  there  no  uncer- 
tainty about  the  laws  of  Scripture?  Do  not  dillcrent  de- 
nominations of  Christians  understand  the  doctrines  and  in- 
stitutions of  revelation  very  dillerently?  Does  not  this 
fact  prove  our  liability  to  mistake  in  this  matter?  Is  it  not 
possible,  that  whilst  we  arc  claiming  to  be  administering  the 
laws  of  Christ,  we  are  in  reality  enforcing  nothing  better 
than  the  inventions  of  men? 

To  these  inquiries  we  reply,  the  Holy  Scriptures  give  no 
intimation  that  the  laws  of  God  arc  ambiguous  or  uncer- 
tain. If  they  were  so,  the  Church  would  be  left  without 
laws;  for  Jaws  that  are  doubtful  or  incomprehensible,  are 
of  no  validity  where  rigliteousness  directs  the  administra- 
tion. On  the  contrary,  it  is  invariably  assumed,  that  the 
doctrines  and  ordinances  of  the  Bible  are,  to  the  humble 
and  teachable,  easy  of  comprehension,  and  remote  from  all 
unccrtaint}'.  It  is  true,  Christians  differ  in  their  intrepreta- 
tion  of  Scripture;  but  where  is  the  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians wlio  will  impute  this  diversity,  in  matters  of  import- 
ance, to  the  ambiguity  or  uncertainty  of  the  sacred  record, 
or  will  admit  that  there  is  no  fault  in  those  who  difl'cr  from 
their  interpretation?  We  arc  not  entitled  to  the  name  of 
Christians,  if  \\c  be  not  prepared  to  affirm  the  perfect  plain- 
ness of  Scripture,  in  all  things  essential  to  faith  and  godli- 
ness; and  the  obligation  resting  upon  all,  to  understand 
aright  its  doctrines  and  precepts,  its  commands  and  institu- 
tions. No  man  can  be  innocent,  whilst  pretending  to  de- 
duce from  the  inspired  volume  a  system  of  error;  or  whilst 
maintaining  opinions  in  opposition  to  the  pure  doctrines  of 
Divine  revelation.  It  is  absurd  to  object  that  the  Bible  is 
a  communication  from  heaven,  and  yet  unintelligible;  that 
the  laws  of  God  are  so  obscure  or  ambiguous,  that  they 


108  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

may  be  misunderstood  or  disregarded  with  impunity.  We 
therefore  consider  ourselves  as  chargeable  with  neither  pre- 
sumption nor  usurpation,  whilst  interpreting  the  doctrines 
and  institutions  of  the  Gospel,  and  applying  them  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ. 

The  officers  appointed  by  the  Lord  Jesus  in  his  Church, 
are  invested  with  authority  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the 
unworthy;  to  exercise  salutary  discipline  upon  offending 
members;  and  to  exclude  the  contumacious  and  impenitent. 

I.  It  belongs  to  the  officers  of  the  Church,  to  prevent  the 
admission  of  unworthy  persons  to  her  fellowship. 

We  cheerfully  and  readily  recognize  the  obligation  of  our 
Saviour's  command,  '<Go  ye,  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of 
all  nations."  We  acknowledge  it  to  be  the  sacred  duty  of 
the  Christian  ministry  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  all,  to  incul- 
cate upon  men  universally,  the  duty  of  believing  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  make  known  to  them  the  encour- 
aging and  gracious  promise,  "  He  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved."  We  rejoice  in  the  new  and  animating 
prospects  furnished  by  the  favour  of  Providence,  for  the 
promulgation  of  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  to  the  remote 
and  destitute.  We  rejoice  to  hear  of  multitudes,  who  hav- 
ing received  Christian  instruction,  and  having  given  credi- 
ble evidence  of  faith  and  piety,  are  admitted  into  the  bosom 
of  the  Church.  We  take  pleasure  in  believing  that  exer- 
tions to  evangelize  the  world  will  not  cease,  or  be  relaxed, 
whilst  any  portion  of  the  human  family  remains  estranged 
from  the  household  of  God.  It  is  our  joyful  anticipation, 
as  it  is  our  constant  prayer,  that  the  righteous  and  benignant 
reign  of  Immanuel  will  soon  extend  over  the  whole  earth, 
bless  all  the  nations,  and  continue  to  the  end  of  time. 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLII^.  109 

It  is  lamentable,  however,  to  observe  how  many,  to  whom 
the  Gospel  is  publislietl,  remain  unfiualified  for  membership 
in  the  Church.     Look  upoii  the  population  of  our  cities, 
towns,  and  country  at  large;  you  will  And  immense  num- 
bers, who  think  so  little  of  Christ  and  his  salvation,  that 
they  have  never  been  baptized  in  his  name.     They  give 
no  evidence  that  the  message  of  heavenly  grace  has  ever 
engaged  their  serious  attention.     They  hear  the  Gospel, 
at  leLt  occasionally,   and  witness  the  solemnities  of  our 
holy  religion;  yet  they  show  an  utter  aversion  to  the  sa- 
cred obligations  and  duties  of  the  Christian  profession.     We 
deeply  deplore,  whilst  we  state,  the  melancholy  fact.     We 
lament. the  insensibility,  and  criminal  apathy,  of  so  many 
who  hear  the  Gospel;  and  we  pray  that  the  Holy  Spirit,  by 
his  efficacious  influence,  may  incline  the  hearts  of  men  uni- 
versally to  hear,  believe,  and  obey  the  words  of  eternal  life. 
But  arc  the  doors  of  the  Church  to  be  opened  wide  for 
the  reception  of  all  who,  for  any  reason,  may  seek  to  enter? 
Is  every  restriction,  upon  the  indiscriminate  and  unlimited 
admission  of  members,  to  be  removed?  INIost  assuredly  not. 
In  every  age,  and  in  every  condition  of  the  Church,  some 
corrupt  and  vicious  men  have  been  willing  to  assume  the 
name  and  profession  of  Christianity;  and  even  to  undertake 
the  sacred   functions  of  the  Christian  ministry.     To  the 
officers  of  Christ's  kingdom  it  belongs  to  judge  of  the  quali- 
fications of  applicants  for  admission;  and  fidelity  to  their 
Lord  requires  them  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  ignorant, 
the  profane  and  licentious.     To  admit  the  wicked  and  irre- 
ligious to  the  privileges  of  Church  membcrsliip,  would  be 
a  grievous  violation  of  the  command  of  Christ,    *'  Give  not 
that  which  is  holy  unto  the  dogs."     <«  Except  a  man  be 
born  again  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God:"  he  cannot 
16 


110  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

understand  the  nature,  perform  the  duties_,  or  participate  in 
the  enjoyments,  of  the  kingdom  of  grace  upon  earth,  or  of 
the  kingdom  of  glory  in  heaven.  ^'  For  the  kingdom  of  God 
is  not  meat  and  drink;  but  righteousness,  and  peace,  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit.  For  he  that  in  these  things  serveth 
Christ  is  acceptable  to  God,  and  approved  of  men."  Un- 
der every  dispensation  of  the  Church,  God  commands  his 
ministers  to  "put  a  difference  between  holy  and  unholy, 
between  unclean  and  clean." 

The  existence  and  purity  of  the  Church  require  this  dis- 
crimination. The  promiscuous  introduction  of  men  of 
every  character  would  destroy  its  essential  and  appropriate 
nature.  Of  whom  does  the  Church  consist?  of  them  cer- 
tainly who  know  and  believe  the  truth j  who  give  evidence 
of  repentance  for  sin,  union  to  Christ,  and  conformity  to 
his  image;  who,  being  delivered  from  the  delusions  and 
corruptions  of  this  world,  manifest  by  a  life  of  holiness  that 
they  are  partakers  of  the  divine  nature,  and  of  the  righte- 
ousness of  our  Lord  Jesus;  who,  by  a  diligent  obedience  to 
the  commands  and  institutions  of  Christ,  and  by  the  sanc- 
tifying operations  of  his  Spirit,  are  made  meet  for  the  in- 
heritance of  the  saints  in  glory.  Are  the  ignorant  and  er- 
roneous, the  profligate  and  profane,  to  be  received  into  such 
a  society  as  this?  Nothing  so  incongruous  would  be  toler- 
ated in  any  other  case.  Would  you  aamit  tne  aeclared 
enemies  of  your  country,  and  of  all  tne  iioeral  and  equit- 
able institutions,  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  citizens? 
Would  any  society  receive  to  its  fellowship  men  whose 
opinions  and  conduct  are  in  manifest  hostility  to  its  pri- 
mary design  and  fundamental  principles?  It  surely  re- 
quires no  labour  to  prove,  that  the  unholy  and  profane  are 
not  qualified  for  membership  in  a  community  whose  grand 


OF  CHURCII  DISCIPLINE.  1 1 1 

characteristic  is  holiness  to  the  Lord;  that  the  enemies  of 
truth  and  righteousness  ought  not  to  i)c  admitted  into  the 
Church,  to  dishonour  tlie  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  tlie  pro- 
fession of  his  name. 

The  officers  of  the  Church  arc  required  to  guard  with  as- 
siduous care  against  the  admission  of  the  ignorant  and  un- 
sanctified.  From-  the  desire  prevalent,  in  most  Christian 
communities,  to  increase  their  numhcrs,  to  extend  their  in- 
fluence, and  to  gratify  those  who  evince  a  prepossession  in 
their  favour,  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  sufficient  caution 
will  not  he  employed  to  exclude  the  unworthy;  and  espe- 
cially to  prevent  the  sacred  ministry  from  heing  profaned, 
by  the.  conceited  novice,  the  corrupt  worldling,  and  the 
equivocating  heretic.  Hence  the  danger  of  filling  the 
Church  with  men  who  neither  know  nor  obey  the  truth, 
and  of  admitting  to  the  sacred  office  those  who  have  never 
learned  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of  Christianity.  There 
is  cause  for  apprehension,  where  large  numbers  are  hurried 
into  the  Church,  upon  the  feeling  and  impulse  of  a  mo- 
ment; and  many  are  added  to  its  ministry,  who  are  not  at 
the  pains  of  concealing  their  hostility  to  its  peculiar  and  ac- 
knowledged principles. 

It  is  undeniable,  that  within  a  few  years  a  great  change 
has  taken  place  in  the  theological  opinions  of  many  of  the 
teachers  of  our  denomination.  Are  we  expected  to  find, 
in  every  Presbyterian  minister,  a  lover  and  defender  of  the 
venerable  standards  of  our  Church;  one  who  zealously  in- 
culcates upon  the  people  the  doctrines  which  they  contain, 
and  which  we  believe  to  be  faithfully  derived  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  Now  it  has  become  no  uncommon  thing 
to  hear  of  Presbyterian  ministers  sneering  at  the  Confession 
and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  pronouncing 


112  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

the  very  idea  of  a  creed  an  absurdity;  and,  as  might  be 
expected,  industriously  setting  forth  a  system  of  opinions 
as  different  from  that  of  our  standards  as  darkness  from 
day.  This  state  of  things  the  revered  fathers  of  our 
Church  could  scarcely  have  anticipated.  The  language  of 
the  standards  which  they  adopted,  is  remarkable  for  pre- 
cision and  perspicuity.  It  is  not  possible  to  mistake  the 
system  of  doctrine  which  they  were  designed  to  teach. 
Could  it  be  thought,  therefore,  that  any  would  seek  a  con- 
nexion with  a  Church,  without  believing  her  articles  of 
faith?  Might  it  not  have  been  supposed,  that  every  feeling 
of  candour,  honour,  and  uprightness,  would  deter  men 
from  solemnly  professing  to  receive  and  adopt  a  system  of 
doctrine  which  they  do  not  believe,  and  which  they  con- 
sider themselves  required  to  contradict  and  repudiate? 

Our  Presbyteries  are  bound  to  watch,  with  vigilance  and 
fidelity,  against  the  entrance  of  unsound  men  into  the  min- 
istry. Whatever  might  have  been  anticipated,  the  history 
of  the  Church  abundantly  shows,  that  the  matter  cannot  be 
safely  left  to  the  honour  and  conscience  of  the  applicants 
themselves.  If  permitted,  every  kind  and  degree  of  error 
will  gain  admission  into  the  Church.  The  doctrines  of 
our  standards  will  be  forgotten,  or  calumniated;  and  puri- 
ty and  peace  will  be  estranged  from  our  borders.  A  tide 
of  innovation  and  error,  will  sweep  away  all  the  landmarks 
of  truth  and  order,  erected  in  the  early  and  purer  times  of 
the  Church.  As  watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zion,  it  belongs 
to  us  to  see  that  no  enemy,  whatever  disguise  he  may  put 
on,  be  permitted  to  enter  our  gates;  as  constituted  guar- 
dians of  the  public  welfare,  we  must  beware  of  committing 
the  direction  of  affairs  to  men  who  are  hostile  to  our  best 
interests.     A  man  who  is  not  cordially  and  thoroughly  at- 


OF  CIIURCII  DISCIPLINE.  113 

tached  to  our  system,  ouglit  not  to  obtrude  himself  upon 
us;  and  if  he  should  attempt  it,  the  Presbytery  must  abhor 
the  thought  of  participating  in  the  guilt  of  his  prevarication 
and  falsehood.  _ 

The  present  distracted  state  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
is  owing,  in  a  great  degree,  to  the  fiicility  with  which  men 
of  almost  every  shade  of  opinion  have  been  admitted  to 
preach  among  us.  Some  Presbyteries,  it  is  said,  have  dis- 
pensed with  the  Constitutional  questions  required  to  be 
proposed  to  every  candidate  at  his  ordination;  and  others 
have  not  considered  opinions,  the  most  remote  from  our 
standards,  a  sufllcient  cause  for  rejection.  Perhaps  I  may 
say  with  truth,  that  none  have  been  duly  alert  in  guarding 
the  entrance  to  the  holy  ministry.  We  are  now  suffering 
the  deplorable  consequences  of  such  unconstitutional  and 
culpable  remissness. 

Some  departures  from  truth  are  far  more  pernicious  in 
their  nature  and  tendency  than  others:  against  such  it  be- 
comes us  to  guard  with  special  care  and  diligence.  An  er- 
ror may  be  of  such  a  nature,  and  lead  to  such  consequences, 
as  to  be  incompatible  with  a  sound  and  scriptural  system  of 
divinity.  Any  material  error  in  respect  to  the  all  impor- 
tant doctrine  of  atonement,  is  of  this  character.  Such  an 
error,  we  hesitate  not  to  say,  is  committed,  whenever  the 
atonement  of  Christ  is  represented  as  indefinite  in  regard 
to  its  objects;  and  as  not  insuring  the  salvation  of  those  for 
whom  it  was  made.  Indeed  it  is  nothing  better  than 
an  abuse  of  language,  to  denominate  any  thing  an  atonC' 
menty  which  does  not  make  an  effectual  satisfaction  for  the 
offences  of  him  or  them,  in  behalf  of  whom  it  is  offered; 
and  insure,  as  its  consequence,  the  reconciliation  of  the 
parties  previously  at  variance.     The  inconceivable  suffer- 


114  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

ings  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be  called  an  exhibition, 
or  a  display,  or  a  symbolical  representation,  or  whatever 
else  you  please,  except  an  atonement ;  but  an  atonement 
they  can  with  no  propriety  be  denominated,  if  they  did  not 
fully  satisfy  the  divine  justice  for  the  sins  of  men,  and 
make  certain  the  reconciliation  with  God,  of  all  those  for 
whom  the  atoning  Redeemer  became  the  substitute  and 
surety. 

An  error  here  never  remains  solitary;  it  will  soon  be 
found  in  company  with  a  denial  of  the  doctrine  of  original 
sin,  of  the  vicarious  nature,  altogether,  of  the  sufferings  of 
Christ,  of  the  imputation  of  his  righteousness  to  believers 
for  justification,  and  of  the  necessity  and  reality  of  the 
Spirit's  operations,  in  regenerating  and  sanctifying  the  soul. 
Did  time  permit,  it  would  be  easy  to  show  how  all  these 
pernicious  errors  are  naturally,  and  almost  unavoidably,  con- 
nected with  each  other;  but  it  is  enough  to  know  that  in 
fact  they  are  usually  seen  associated.  How  extremely  haz- 
ardous is  it  then,  to  admit  any  man  who  holds  one  of  them, 
to  be  a  teacher  in  the  Presbyterian  Church?  One  of  these 
errors  admitted,  we  must  expect  to  find  a  host  of  others 
following  in  its  train. 

Let  those,  then,  who  are  appointed  to  guard  the  avenues 
to  Church  membership,  and  to  the  office  of  the  ministry, 
justly  appreciate  the  high  and  responsible  trust  reposed  in 
them.  Let  them  beware  of  receiving  into  the  Church  of 
Christ  the  ignorant,  the  scandalous  and  irreligious;  let  them 
beware  of  admitting  to  the  office  of  teaching  and  ruling  in 
the  Church,  men  who,  they  have  reason  to  believe,  do  not 
accord  in  judgment  or  practice  with  its  authorized  princi- 
ples. An  increase  of  numbers  will  be  a  poor  compensation 
for  the  introduction  of  unsoundness  and  irreligion  into  the 
Church. 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  115 

2.  The  oflicers  of  tlie  Church  arc  required  to  exercise 
discipline  upon  ofleiuliiio;  members.  la  every  society, 
whose  mcmhcrs  are  imperfect,  discipline  is  necessary.  If 
one  of  your  children  do  wrong,  you  admonish,  reprove,  or 
chasten  him,  as  the  case  may  require.  In  seats  of  learning, 
from  the  village  school  to  the  dignified  university,  the  dis- 
orderly are  reclaimed,  and  a  healthful  state  of  the  institu- 
tion maintained,  by  the  application  of  suitable  discipline. 
The  Lord  Jesus  has  appointed  discipline  as  the  means  of 
restoring  his  erring  children,  and  of  promoting  the  purity 
and  welfare  of  his  Church.  Warnings,  admonitions,  re- 
bukes, and  even  separation  from  the  communion  of  the 
saints,  are  to  be  employed  for  these  purposes. 

In  the  reception  of  men>bers  to  the  Church,  the  ministers 
and  elders  are  not  exempt  from  mistake.  Notwithstanding 
the  utmost  caution,  some  unworthy  persons  gain  admission; 
and  even  the  real  disciples  of  Christ  are  imperfect,  and  lia- 
ble to  error  and  transgression.  In  what  manner  then  shall 
the  honour  of  Christ,  and  the  authority  of  his  laws,  be  vin- 
dicated? How  shall  the  erring  disciple  be  restored,  and 
the  Church  preserved  from  the  contamination  of  the  wick- 
ed? The  Scriptures  point  out  discipline  as  the  proper 
means.  No  discredit  can  be  incurred  by  the  Church  from 
the  misconduct  of  its  members,  if  the  salutary  rules  of  dis- 
cipline be  promptly  applied.  No  encouragement  is  given 
to  transgress,  if  there  be  reason  to  expect  that  transgression 
will  be  followed  by  adequate  correction. 

3.  The  rules  of  the  Church  possess  the  power  to  exclude 
the  contumacious  and  impenitent.  If  every  means  em- 
ployed to  reclaim  an  offending  member  be  found  insuffi- 
cient, he  must  be  separated  from  the  communion  of  the 
Church.     The  Scriptures  prefixed  to  this  discourse  leave 


116  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

no  room  for  doubt  on  this  subject:  "  Put  away  from  among 
yourselves  that  wicked  person."    "A  man  that  is  an  here- 
tic after  the  first  and  second  admonition  reject."     Other 
quotations  might  be  made  to  the  same  purpose.      "If  he 
neglect  to  hear  the  Church,  says  our  Saviour,  let  him  be 
unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man  and  a  publican;"  an  apostle 
commands  the  Thessalonians  to  ''withdraw  themselves  from 
every  brother  that  walketh  disorderly."     Every   society 
must  possess  power  to  exclude  those  whose  membership  is 
found  incompatible  with  the  chief  design  of  the  institution. 
The  Church  can  be  no  exception  to  this.     Its  members  asso- 
ciate upon  the  basis  of  certain  recognized  principles,  and 
for  the  attainment  of  certain  important  ends.     If  the  con- 
nexion of  any  one  be  found  to  infringe  these  principles, 
and  to  frustrate  these  ends,  it  is  within  the  province  of  the 
constituted  authorities  of  the  Church  to  declare  him  to  be 
no  longer  in  its  fellowship.     The  exercise  of  this  power, 
when  a  proper  occasion  calls  for  it,  is  an  indispensable  and 
very  important  duty.     However  unpleasant  to  our  feelings, 
a  due  regard  to  the  command  and  glory  of  God,  to  the  puri- 
ty, peace  and  welfare  of  the  Church,  requires   that   we 
should  not  shrink  from  the  performance  of  it. 

But  here  the  question  will  arise,  by  whom  is  the  disci- 
pline of  the  church  to  be  administered?  Who  are  author- 
ized to  judge  of  the  qualifications  of  members,  to  apply  the 
laws  of  Christ  for  the  correction  of  what  is  wrong  in  them, 
and  to  exclude  the  scandalous  and  contumacious  offender? 
I  have  no  disposition  to  enter  into  an  argument  in  relation 
to  ecclesiastical  polity;  whether  the  government  of  the 
Church  belongs,  by  divine  right,  to  pastors  in  conjunction 
with  ruling  elders,  or  to  the  congregation  at  large.  You 
are  satisfied  with  the  doctrine  and  practice  of  the  Presby- 


/ 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  117 

lerian  Church  on  this  subject.  You  have  no  disposition  to 
renounce  the  system  approved  by  Calvin  and  Knox,  and 
by  the  able  and  pious  founders  of  our  religious  community. 
The  Walclcnscs,  those  famous  witnesses  for  God  and  truth, 
retained  the  simple  and  scriptural  form  of  Presbyterianism, 
when  all  the  world  was  corrupted  by  the  abominations  of 
the  Romish  hierarchy.  Under  the  influence  of  this  sys- 
tem, the  most  glorious  triumphs  of  the  Reformation  were 
achieved.  When  strictly  maintained,  it  has  ever  been 
found  most  effectual  in  checking  the  aberrations  of  heretics; 
in  purifying  the  Church  from  error  and  licentiousness  j 
and  in  promoting  sound  doctrine  and  pure  religion. 

Shall,  the  degenerate  Church  of  Geneva,  the  corrupted 
Presbyterian  Churches  of  England,  or  even  the  present 
condition  of  our  own  Church,  be  adduced  to  prove  that 
Presbyterianism  is  not  adequate  to  prevent  the  entrance  of 
baneful  error,  or  the  prevalence  of  pernicious  practices? 
We  deeply  lament  the  degeneracy  of  churches  planted  and 
watered  by  the  labours  of  Calvin,  and  Beza,  and  Turretin. 
We  are  grieved  to  learn  that  places  of  worship,  dedicated 
to  the  honour  of  the  Son  of  God,  by  the  pious  and  ortho- 
dox Presbyterians  of  England,  are  polluted  by  the  blas- 
phemies of  Socinianism.  And  we  are  no  less  grieved  to 
learn  that,  in  our  own  beloved  community,  opinions  have 
gained  a  currency,  which  are  more  in  harmony  with  the 
creed  of  Pelagius,  than  with  that  of  the  excellent  men  who 
founded  our  Church,  or  framed  its  standards. 

Whilst  we  admit  and  lament  these  departures  from  the 
purity  of  the  Gospel,  we  arc  far  from  conceding  that  they 
can  be  fairly  imputed  to  any  defect  in  the  Presbyterian  form 
of  church  government:  or  that  the  rules  and  discipline  of 
Presbyterianism,  if  faithfully  applied,  would  have  been 
17 


lie  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

found  insufficient  to  prevent  them.  The  noblest  ship 
that  ever  floated  on  the  bosom  of  the  deep,  must  have 
her  efficient  commander,  her  able  and  faithful  crew;  if  these 
be  wanting,  the  ill-fated  vessel  will  soon  run  upon  the 
shoals,  or  be  dashed  against  the  rocks.  The  constitution 
and  laws  of  the  country  may  be  wise  and  excellent;  but  if 
the  administration  become  corrupt,  and  the  execution  of 
the  laws  be  neglected,  it  is  preposterous  to  suppose  that  the 
commonwealth  can  escape  detriment. 

If  the  discipline  of  the  Church  be  relaxed,  or  wholly  ne- 
glected; if  no  pains  be  taken  to  pi'event  the  entrance  of  men 
whose  adverse  propensities  and  foreign  attachments  are  no- 
torious; if  public  teachers  be  permitted  to  declare  them- 
selves in  opposition  to  the  acknowledged  doctrine  and  or- 
der of  the  Church,  whilst  the  appointed  guardians  of  her 
purity  and  peace  make  no  effort  to  repress  their  presump- 
tion, and  punish  their  treachery;  ought  it  to  be  looked 
upon  as  a  matter  of  astonishment,  that  the  floodgates  of 
error  and  delusion  should  be  opened  upon  us,  that  ortho- 
doxy should  become  a  term  of  reproach,  and  a  strict  ad- 
herence to  our  standards  be  branded  as  illiberal  and  secta- 
rian? If  the  majority  of  pastors  and  elders  become  corrupt 
or  remiss,  it  cannot  be  expected  that  care  will  be  taken  to 
preserve  inviolate  the  pure  and  scriptural  doctrines  of  the 
Church,  or  to  inflict  deserved  censure  upon  treachery 
and  licentiousness.  In  such  a  state  of  things,  corruption 
and  error  of  every  kind  will  not  be  slow  in  making  their 
appearance. 

But  if,  whilst  the  Church  is  substantially  sound,  whilst 
the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  are  venerated,  and  the  du- 
ties it  enjoins  generally  practised,  heresy  and  immorality 
show  their  hated  front,  there  is  no  system  of  government 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  119 

which  possesses  superior  facilities  for  checking  and  extir- 
pating them.  A  church  session  can  act  with  incomparably- 
greater  promptness,  decision,  and  energy,  than  the  entire 
body  of  the  congregation.  Its  members  are,  in  general, 
more  exempt  from  the  influence  of  passions  and  prejudices, 
adverse  to  the  right  discharge  of  duty;  they  are  less  likely 
to  be  deceived  by  the  wily  arts  of  heresy,  or  the  imposing 
pretensions  of  specious  iniquity;  and  from  their  superior 
intelligence,  and  deeper  sense  of  responsiblcness,  they  are 
better  qualified,  as  well  as  more  anxious,  to  do  what  is  just 
and  right. 

The  advantages  of  the  Presbyterian  organization  for  the 
support  and  defence  of  truth,  and  for  the  suppression  of 
error,  are  great  and  obvious.  The  members  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, after  full  examination,  judge  of  the  qualifications  of 
the  candidate  for  the  ministry,  and  if  they  find  him  defi- 
cient in  ability,  soundness,  or  piety,  they  have  the  power, 
as  it  is  their  duty,  to  reject  him.  The  avenue  to  the  sacred 
office  is,  by  this  arrangement,  guarded  in  the  best  possible 
manner. 

To  the  Presbytery  it  also  belongs  to  watch  with  solici- 
tude over  the  reputation  and  conduct  of  all  its  members; 
to  arrest  those  who  abandon  the  safe  course  marked  out  by 
our  standards,  and  launch  into  the  sea  of  novelty  and  error; 
and  to  preserve  the  churches  under  their  care  from  the  con- 
tagion of  wickedness  and  false  doctrine.  The  happiest  ef- 
fects, it  may  be  expected,  will  follow  from  a  faithful  ad- 
herence to  our  ecclesiastical  standards,  and  a  firm  determi- 
nation to  assert  their  authority.  It  will  be  found  that  a 
decided  movement  in  condemnation  of  erroneous  opinions, 
will  operate  effectually  to  cool  the  ardour  of  heretical  en- 
thusiasts, and  to  check  their  presumptuous  career  into  the 
wild  regions  of  delusion  and  fanaticism. 


120  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

To  the  higher  judicatories,  to  our  Synods  and  General 
Assembly,  it  pertains,  to  superintend  the  concerns  of  the 
Church  more  at  large,  to  correct  what  is  amiss  in  the  lower 
courts,  to  defend  the  sacred  cause  of  evangelical  truth  and 
piety,  to  guard  the  churches  against  the  approaches  of  pesti- 
lent error  and  to  devise  and  execute  measures,  for  the  more 
general  prevalence  of  truth  and  holiness  in  the  world. 

Here,  then,  is  a  system  of  ecclesiastical  government, 
harmonious,  compact,  energetic.  According  to  it,  the 
united  wisdom  and  piety  of  the  Church  may  be  exerted  for 
the  correction  of  what  is  wrong  in  any  part;  and  on  the  other 
hand,  whatever  is  judged  useful  can,  in  an  orderly  and 
authoritative  manner,  be  established  for  the  common  benefit 
of  the  whole.  Whether  we  contemplate  this  system  in 
theory  or  practice,  or  in  regard  to  scriptural  evidence 
and  authority,  we  can  see  no  reason  why  it  may  not  com- 
pare to  advantage  with  any  other. 

When  the  Lord  Jesus  organized  his  Church,  he  imparted 
the  keys  of  the  kingdom,  not  to  all  the  people,  but  to  the 
apostles  whom  he  had  chosen.  And  the  apostles,  acting  by 
the  authority  of  their  Master,  committed  the  power  of  gov- 
ernment and  discipline  to  the  elders,  wdiom  they  ordained 
in  every  city.  The  people  having  exercised  their  right  of 
choosing,  in  the  case  of  the  seven  deacons,  were  afterwards 
to  obey,  not  to  rule.  The  administration  of  ecclesiastical 
authority  by  the  people  at  large,  is  an  assumption,  not  coun- 
tenanced in  the  New  Testament. 

The  uses  of  discipline  are  various  and  important. 

1.  It  is  necessary  to  prevent  the  anger  of  God  from 
resting  on  his  Church;  which  must  be  the  case,  if  sin  be  al- 
lowed in  its  members.  The  ancient  Church  were  com- 
manded to  put  a  difference  between  the  clean  and  unclean. 


OF  CIRTRCII  DISCIPLINE.  121 

between  the  holy  and  unholy;  and  to  remove  far  from 
them  every  cause  of  pollution  and  guilt.  When  they  ne- 
glected to  do  so,  they  were  soon  visited  with  the  manifes- 
tations of  God's  displeasure.  The  same  obligation  rests 
upon  the  New  Testament  Church.  "Be  yc  holy;  for  I  am 
holy."  Sin,  at  all  times,  and  wherever  found,  is  offensive 
to  the  Divine  Majesty.  The  wicked  he  reserves  to  the 
day  of  judgment,  and  perdition  of  ungodly  men.  lie  will 
then  make  it  evident,  that  his  forbearance  is  by  no  means  in- 
consistent with  the  strongest  disapprobation  of  sin,  and  an 
unchangeable  determination  to  punish  it.  His  chosen  and 
redeemed  people  are,  indeed,  delivered  from  condemna- 
tion and  the  wrath  to  come.  Yet,  whilst  in  this  life,  they 
are  liable  to  faults  and  imperfections.  If,  therefore,  sin  be 
allowed  in  them  without  admonition  or  correction,  Christ 
will  rebuke  and  chasten  them;  and  if  corrupt  doctrines  and 
practices  be  tolerated  in  the  Church,  he  will  come  and  fight 
against  it,  and  remove  its  candlestick  out  of  his  place,  ex- 
cept they  repent.  To  avoid,  therefore,  or  remove  the  Di- 
vine displeasure,  discipline  must  be  faithfully  applied.  The 
faults  of  God's  children  must  be  corrected,  and  the  hereti- 
cal and  abominable  must  be  excluded  from  the  communion 
of  the  faithful. 

2.  Discipline  is  necessary  to  promote  the  sanctification 
of  believers,  and  to  reclaim  them  from  what  is  offensive  and 
sinful.  For  these  important  purposes,  the  ordinary  dispen- 
sation of  the  word  and  ordinances  are  of  great  and  indis- 
pensable utility.  The  ambassador  of  Christ  must  show  unto 
the  people  their  transgressions  and  sins;  and  by  a  faithful 
exhibition  of  the  admonitions  and  reproofs  of  the  Divine 
word,  as  well  as  by  the  sweet  accents  of  the  Gospel,  he 
must  call  them  to  repentance  and  amendment.     But  if  an 


128  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

offending  member  be  not  reclaimed  by  the  common  minis- 
trations of  the  Gospel,  and  if  the  private  means  enjoined  by 
our  Saviour  have  been  used  without  effect,  the  Church 
must  have  recourse  to  discipline,  properly  so  called.  Pub- 
lic admonition,  rebuke,  suspension,  or  separation,  must  be 
employed  as  the  case  may  require.  If  milder  remedies  be 
found  insufficient,  we  must  not  neglect  the  use  of  the  more 
severe.  There  is  hope  that  the  erring  brother  will  be 
brought  to  wise  reflection,  and  humble  penitence.  "In  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  when  ye  are  gathered  to- 
gether, and  my  spirit,  with  the  power  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  deliver  such  a  one  unto  Satan  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  flesh,  that  the  spirit  may  be  saved  in  the 
day  of  the  Lord  Jesus."  "And  if  any  man  obey  not  our 
word  by  this  epistle,  note  that  man,  and  have  no  company 
with  him,  that  he  may  be  ashamed.  Yet  count  him  not  as 
an  enemy,  but  admonish  him  as  a  brother."  Discipline, 
among  its  other  uses,  ought  to  be  regarded  as  a  means, 
appointed  by  our  Lord  for  the  recovery  of  his  straying 
children.  When,  therefore,  the  conduct  of  any  of  the 
members  requires  the  salutary  correction  of  discipline,  the 
rulers  of  the  Church  ought  not  to  permit  an  ill-judged  ten- 
derness to  lead  them  to  withhold  it. 

3.  Discipline  is  necessary  to  preserve  the  purity  and 
peace  of  the  Church.  The  greatest  defections  which  have 
taken  place,  from  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  the  Gospel, 
have  proceeded  from  small  beginnings;  from  deviations, 
slight  at  first,  from  the  authorized  language  and  approved 
customs  of  the  Church.  These,  under  the  notion  of  imjwove- 
ments,  the  young  and  unstable  are  too  often  ready  to  adopt. 
If  permitted  to  pass  without  animadversion,  or  rebuke, 
something  more  decisive,  and  still  more  dangerous,  will 
soon  follow.     The  standard  doctrines  of  the  Church  will  be 


OF  CHURCH  discipline.  133 

assailed;  pernicious  errors  will  be  embraced  and  propagated; 
and  licentiousness,  and  every  enormity,  will  come  in  like  a 
flood.  Look  at  the  degenerate  Churches  of  the  old  and  the 
new  world;  you  will  find  that  such  has  been  the  progress  of 
things  among  them.  No  sound  community  becomes  wholly 
corrupt  at  once.  From  slight  beginnings,  and  by  little  and 
little,  the  most  dreadful  and  ruinous  apostacies  have  been 
brought  about.  We  ought  not,  therefore,  to  account  any  de- 
parture from  sound  doctrine  and  evangelical  practice,  as  void 
of  danger.  Some  may,  perhaps,  in  judging  from  the  supposed 
greater  liglit  of  the  present  age,  and  from  the  apparent  piety 
of  those  who  arc  given  to  change,  consider  our  Church  se- 
cure from  the  catastrophe  which  has  befallen  others.  To 
such  I  would  say,  in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  "Your 
glorying  is  not  good.  Know  ye  not,  that  a  little  leaven 
leaveneth  the  whole  lump?  Purge  out,  therefore,  the  old 
leaven,  that  ye  may  be  a  new  lump." 

The  peace  of  the  Church  will  be  endangered  and  destroy- 
ed, if  discipline  be  neglected.  Unless  unscriptural  innova- 
tions be  discountenanced  and  suppressed  by  the  judicial  acts 
of  the  Church,  disputes  and  distractions  must  be  perpetual; 
at  least,  as  long  as  there  remains  in  the  community  any  re- 
gard to  truth  and  piety.  Are  we  charged  with  disturbing 
the  peace  of  the  Church  ?  There  is  no  good  reason  why 
we  should  be  discomposed  under  such  an  accusation.  The 
charge  applies  with  much  more  propriety  to  those  who 
have  given  us  suflicient  cause  to  sound  the  alarm  of  dan- 
ger; who  have  brought  into  jeopardy  the  doctrines  and  in- 
stitutions which  we  are  under  the  most  solemn  obligations  to 
cherish  and  defend.  Disturbers  of  the  peace  of  the  Church  ! 
Sweet  peace  !  heavenly  peace  !  much  as  we  love  thee,  we 
are  willing  to  dispense  with  thy  presence,  whilst  a  hostile 
banner  waves  over  our  Zion,  and  her  bulw^ks  are  assailed  by 


124  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

an  invading  foe.  Whilst  opinions  and  practices,  unknown  to 
our  standards,  and  abhorrent  to  the  judgment  of  the  Church 
in  every  age,  possess  credit  and  currency  within  our  eccle- 
siastical limits,  we  neither  expect  nor  desire  peace.  Changes 
cannot  be  introduced  into  any  religious  community  without 
producing  disturbances  and  contentions.  The  evil,  if  these 
changes  be  unscriptural,  must  be  charged  upon  those  who 
attempt  to  introduce  them.  Opposition  to  them  is  matter 
of  praise,  not  of  censure.  To  preserve  the  tranquillity  of  the 
Church,  therefore,  and  to  promote  its  highest  permanent 
welfare,  the  correction  of  errors  and  abuses  by  discipline  is 
often  indispensable. 

4.  Discipline  is  necessary  to  vindicate  the  honour  of 
Christ  and  of  religion,  by  separating  from  the  Church  what- 
ever is  offensive  and  scandalous.  "Now,  I  beseech  you, 
brethren,  mark  them  which  cause  divisions  and  offences, 
contrary  to  the  doctrines  which  ye  have  learned,  and  avoid 
them."  "Now,  we  command  you  brethren,  in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  withdraw  yourselves  from 
every  brother  that  walketh  disorderly. "  What  will  become 
of  the  honour  of  Christ,  the  sacredness  of  the  Christian  pro- 
fession, and  the  veneration  due  to  the  holy  institutions  of 
the  Gospel,  if  the  ignorant  and  heretical,  the  vicious  and 
profane,  be  allowed  to  participate  in  the  sacramental  solem- 
nities, and  still  more,  in  the  functions  of  the  sacred  minis- 
try? Before  the  world,  the  Church  must  put  a  difference 
between  truth  and  error,  between  holiness  and  sin.  By  the 
authority  of  Christ,  for  the  glory  of  his  name,  for  the  repu- 
tation of  religion  in  the  world,  the  licentious  and  disorderly, 
the  blasphemer  and  the  heretic,  must  be  excluded  from  the 
fellowship  of  the  saints. 

Discipline,  to  accomplish  its  purposes,  must  be  exercised 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  186 

with  tenderness,  impartiality,  and  solemnity;  and,  when 
the  case  demands  it,  with  promptness  and  vigour.  The 
rules  laid  down  in  the  constitution  of  the  Church,  in  con- 
formity with  Scripture,  must  be  scrupulously  followed. 
There  must  be  no  appearance  of  personal  hostility,  or  pri- 
vate revenge,  or  a  disposition  to  seek  an  occasion  for  discip- 
line. It  must  be  evident  that  the  officers  of  the  Church, 
are  influenced  by  upright  intentions,  and  conscientious 
motives;  by  a  solemn  regard  to  the  authority  of  Christ, 
and  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  Church, 
and  of  the  offender  himself.  If  the  case  be  otherwise,  if 
there  be  a  manifest  exhibition  of  passion  and  prejudice,  of 
partiality  and  injustice,  it  would  be  vain  to  expect  that  dis- 
cipline should  produce  a  favourable  impression  upon  the 
Churcli,  or  upon  the  world. 

In  this  age  of  aflccted  liberality,  but  of  real  licentiousness 
in  religious  belief,  the  ordinance  of  discipline  is  divested  of 
much  of  the  weight  and  solemnity  whicli  it  ought  to  pos- 
sess. It  is  not  unfrcquently  contemned  and  set  at  de- 
fiance, by  men  who  justly  incur  its  inflictions.  Tiiis  can- 
not be  done,  however,  without  extreme  peril.  He  that 
despises  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  despises  the  institu- 
tion and  authority  of  the  Son  of  God.  The  impenitent  and 
presumptuous  oflender,  will  find  the  sentence  of  the  Church 
confirmed  by  the  Supreme  Judge,  at  the  day  of  final  ac- 
count. ''Whosesoever  sins  ye  retain,  they  are  retained. " 
The  man  wlio  has  fallen  under  the  righteous  censures  of 
the  Church,  is  bound  to  practise  submission,  humiliation, 
repentance,  and  amendment.  If  lie  do  not,  his  abuse 
and  contempt  of  this  Divine  institution,  will  aggravate  his 
condemnation  and  punishment,  when  Christ  shall  judge  the 
world. 

18 


126  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

It  is  not  possible,  perhaps,  nor  is  it  of  importance,  to 
mention  every  occasion  upon  which  the  exercise  of  disci- 
pline is  proper  and  necessary.  Whatever  is  proved  to  be 
wrong  by  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  by  the  authorized 
standards  of  the  Church,  may,  in  certain  circumstances,  re- 
quire the  correction  which  discipline  alone  can  furnish.  It 
is  the  intention  of  discipline  to  encourage  and  promote 
every  thing  that  is  pure,  and  lovely,  and  of  good  report; 
to  remove  every  slain  and  imperfection  from  the  Christian 
character;  and  to  banish  from  the  Church  every  cause  of 
offence,  dishonour,  and  guilt.  If  any  professor  of  religion 
be  guilty  of  neglecting  the  worship  of  God,  of  profaneness, 
or  Sabbath  breaking;  if  he  be  grossly  deficient  in  the  per- 
formance of  relative  duties,  if  he  be  chargeable  with  fraud, 
falsehood,  covetousness,  malignity,  or  licentiousness;  if  he 
be  intemperate,  or  a  promoter  of  intemperance  in  others;  he 
is  certainly  a  proper  subject  for  discipline.  The  private 
means  for  reclaiming  offenders  having  been  found  insuffi- 
cient, the  Church  must  resort  to  public  censure,  or  excom- 
munication. The  command  and  honour  of  God,  the  purity 
and  tranquillity  of  the  Church,  the  welfare  of  the  offender 
himself,  render  the  employment  of  discipline,  in  such  cases, 
an  imperative  duty. 

The  discipline  of  the  Church  must  be  used,  when  oc- 
casion requires,  to  maintain  and  vindicate  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel,  and  to  suppress  heretical  innovations. 

The  maintenance  of  evangelical  doctrine,  is  of  the  highest 
possible  importance.  It  is  by  the  manifestation  of  the 
truth  that  God  is  glorified,  the  Church  preserved  and  ex- 
tended, sinners  converted,  and  believers  prepared  for  celes- 
tial blessedness.  On  the  contrary,  false  doctrine  tends  ne- 
cessarily to  dishonour  the  divine  perfections,  to  corrupt  the 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  127 

Church,  and  to  ruin  the  souls  of  men.  It  is  possible  that 
error  may  be  employed  successfully  in  catching  the  atten- 
tion and  exciting  the  feelings  of  the  ignorant;  but  after  all, 
a  counterfeit  Gospel  can  produce  nothing  better  than  a 
counterfeit  religion.  We  must  be  able  to  furnish  more 
authentic  proofs  of  the  correctness  of  our  opinions,  than  that 
they  are  adapted  to  arrest  the  attention,  to  alarm  the  fears, 
and  to  agitate  the  passions  of  the  hearers.  "To  the  law 
and  to  the  testimony;  if  they  speak  not  according  to  this 
word,  it  is  because  there  is  no  lio;ht  in  them."  The  trans- 
cendent value  of  truth  will  be  in  some  measure  appreci- 
ated, if  we  remember  that  it  is  only  in  connexion  with  it 
that  God  is  pleased  to  exert  his  power,  for  the  conversion, 
sanctification,  and  salvation  of  men.  Beyond  the  limits  of 
Christian  instruction,  there  is  no  indication  of  divine  influ- 
ence descending  to  renew  the  nature  of  man,  and  to  quali- 
fy him  for  the  holiness  of  heaven.  The  l>story  of  the 
Church  also  shows,  that  a  perversion  or  abandonment  of  the 
truth,  is  soon  followed  by  an  interruption  of  the  refreshing 
showers  of  heavenly  mercy.  Surely,  then,  the  Churches 
redeemed  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  have  the  highest 
interest  in  the  preservation  of  the  truths  of  the  blessed 
Gospel;  and  no  zeal,  however  ardent,  no  exertions,  however 
strenuous,  directed  to  this  object,  can  be  considered  dispro- 
portionate to  its  importance. 

It  might  perhaps  have  been  thought  that  the  exercise  of 
discipline  would,  on  no  occasion,  be  necessary  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  truth;  that  no  man  would  seek  to  obtrude  him- 
self upon  a  community,  whose  religious  faith  was  not  in 
harmony  with  his  own;  and  that  no  minister,  of  any  de- 
nomination, would  venture  to  contradict  the  established 
principles  of  the  Society  of  which  he  is  a  member.     But 


128  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

these  anticipations,  however  reasonable,  are  contradicted 
by  ample  experience,  both  of  the  past  and  the  present. 
Too  often  has  the  Church  been  surprised  and  outraged,  by- 
finding  her  ministers  acting  in  direct  contravention  to  the 
obligations  they  assumed,  and  the  professions  which  they 
made,  at  the  time  of  their  ordination. 

Most  of  the  communities  into  which  the  Church  of  God 
is  divided,  have  published  to  the  world  a  Confession  of 
Faith,  exhibiting  the  doctrines  believed,  and  the  rules 
practised  among  them.  The  design  of  this  exhibition  is  to 
give  information  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  of  the  princi- 
ples upon  which  any  particular  association  of  professed 
Christians  is  founded;  and  to  provide  a  common  ground  of 
agreement  among  the  members  of  the  same  society.  This 
conduct  is  frank,  upright,  and  honourable.  The  world  has 
a  right  to  know  the  principles  upon  which  any  religious 
society  is  constituted.  Concealment  is  disingenuous,  illibe- 
ral, and  a  just  ground  of  suspicion.  How  indeed  can  any 
thing  deserving  the  name  of  a  society  exist,  unless  there  be 
some  basis  of  agreement,  some  principles  which  are  recog- 
nized by  all  as  true  and  important?  In  this  there  is  no  en- 
croachment upon  the  rights  of  others.  We  have  unques- 
tionably the  right  of  choosing  our  associates;  of  settling  the 
rules  of  our  intercourse,  and  the  terms  upon  which  we  are 
willing  to  admit  others  to  our  fellowship. 

Some  professed  Christians  have  indeed  opposed  all  creeds 
and  confessions  of  human  composition.  The  Bible,  say 
they,  is  our  creed:  and  they  speak,  in  no  measured  terms, 
of  the  presumption,  folly,  and  danger,  of  introducing  any 
other  creed  into  the  Church.  The  plan  which  they  propose 
would  answer  every  purpose,  if  all  who  profess  to  believe 
the   Scriptures   concurred    in   the   same   interpretation   of 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  IJ^g 

them.  The  profession  of  faith  in  the  Bihlc  would  then  se- 
cure an  agreement,  about  the  (rullis  contained  in  the  Bible. 
But  this  is  so  far  from  being  the  case,  that  we  find  every 
shade  and  variety  of  opinion,  among  men  who  equally  pro- 
fess to  believe  the  Bible — from  the  pure  doctrines  of  salva- 
tion, down  to  the  rejection  of  all  that,  is  peculiar  and  essen- 
tial to  revealed  religion.  It  is  evident  therefore,  that  this 
profession  alone  cannot  secure  sound  doctrine  in  any 
Church,  nor  exclude  the  most  destructive  errors;  that 
there  can  be  no  agreement,  no  harmony,  among  men  dif- 
fering so  widely  as  they  do,  who  are  equally  ready  to  make 
this  profession. 

In  fact,  every  religious  denomination  have  some  standard 
of  belief  among  them,  besides  the  Bible;  some  creed,  avow- 
ed or  understood,  which  expresses  their  judgment  respect- 
ing the  chief  articles  of  faith.  Perceiving  tliis  to  be  the 
case,  some  object,  not  so  much  to  a  creed  or  confession,  as 
to  one  so  extended  and  particular  as  those  are,  which  the 
churches  have  thought  proper  to  adopt.  The  creed  of  the 
Church,  say  they,  ought  to  be  confined  to  a  few  simple 
principles,  in  which  all  Christians  can  unite.  But  here  it 
is  obvious  to  inquire,  who  shall  ascertain  these  few  simple 
principles,  in  which  all  Christians  can  unite?  or  rather  how 
shall  we  settle  the  preliminary  question,  Who  are  Chris- 
tians? Is  there  no  difficulty  in  answering  these  inquiries, 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who  may  be  interested  in  them? 

What  remains,  then,  but  that  men,  agreeing  about  the 
chief  principles  of  religion,  form  themselves  into  a  society 
upon  the  basis  of  this  agreement,  upon  the  profession  of 
their  common  faith;  and  that  they  commit  their  principles 
to  writing,  for  the  information  and  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned. Heretical  departures  from  the  truths  of  the  Gos- 
pel, gave  occasion  to  the  formation  of  creeds  and  confes- 


130  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

sions;  and  the  number  of  articles  to  which  they  are  extend- 
ed is  regulated,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  number  of  er- 
rors to  which  men  are  exposed. 

A  few  simple  principles,  however,  do  in  reality  deter- 
mine the  whole  extent  of  the  theological  creed  of  every 
denomination  of  Christians.  The  details  which  fill  up  the 
volume,  are  either  held  in  common  by  all,  or  are  logically 
deduced  from  the  cardinal  principles  of  the  system.  The 
opposers  of  our  Confession  of  Faith  object,  not  so  much  to 
its  details,  as  to  its  fundamental  doctrines.  They  may  pro- 
fess to  find  fault  with  it  as  too  minute,  too  particular,  too 
far  extended;  but  when  they  come  to  explain  themselves, 
it  is  soon  discovered  that  their  hostility  is  directed  against 
lis prmcipal  doctrines,  its  essential  characteristics.  This 
will  be  apparent  from  an  enumeration  of  some  of  the 
grand  principles  of  our  theological  standards. 

These  venerable  instruments  teach  the  doctrines  of  di- 
vine predestination  and  eternal  decrees,  that  "  God  hath 
foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,"  and  in  particular, 
that  "  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated  unto  ever- 
lasting life,  and  others  fore-ordained  to  everlasting  death." 
"  Yet,  so  as  thereby  neither  is  God  the  author  of  sin,  nor  is 
violence  ofiered  to  the  will  of  the  creatures,  nor  is  the 
liberty  or  contingency  of  second  causes  taken  away,  but 
rather  established."  See  Confession  of  Faith,  chap.  iii. 
sec.  i.  iii.  vii.      Larg.  Cat.  12. 

They  teach  the  complete  representative  character  of 
Adam,  "that  the  covenant  being  made  with  Adam,  not 
only  for  himself,  but  for  his  posterity,  all  mankind  de- 
scending from  him  by  ordinary  generation,  sinned  in 
him  and  fell  with  him,  in  his  first  transgression;"  that  in 
consequence  of  the  imputation  of  Adam's  sin,  all  men  are 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  18| 

by  nature  in  a  state  of  condemnation,  depravity,  and  help- 
lessness, "utterly  indisposed,  disabled,  and  made  opposite 
unto  all  that  is  spiritually  good:  so  that  having  wholly  lost 
all  ability  of  will  to  any  spiritual  good,  and  being  dead 
in  sin,  man  is  not  able  by  his  own  strength  to  convert 
himself." 

They  teach  that  <'  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
was  made  the  Substitute  and  Surety  of  his  people;  that  by 
his  vicai-ious  obedience  and  sufferings,  he  hath  fully  satis- 
fied the  justice  of  his  Father,  and  purchased  not  only  re- 
conciliation, but  an  everlasting  inheritance,  for  all  those 
whom  the  Father  hath  given  unto  him.  Neither  are 
any  other  redeemed  by  Christ,  efrectually  called,  justified, 
adopted,  sanctified  and  saved,  but  the  elect  only." 

They  teach  that  believers  are  justified  on  account  of  the 
satisfaction  and  righteousness  of  Christ,  imputed  to  them, 
and  received  by  faith  alone. 

They  instruct  us  to  believe  that  cfiTcctual  calling,  or  re- 
generation, is  the  work  of  God's  almighty  power  and  grace, 
in  which  man  is  altogether  passive;  and  that  by  the  imme- 
diate, internal-,  and  effectual  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
believers  arc  enlightened,  sanctified,  and  sealed,  to  eternal 
redemption. 

They  show  that  holiness  and  good  works  are  the  proper 
fruit  and  evidence  of  eternal  election,  and  that  without 
them  there  can  be  no  well-founded  hope  of  everlasting  life. 

They  instruct  us,  that  all  who  arc  brought  into  a  state  of 
acceptance  and  sanctification  shall,  from  the  unchangeable 
love  of  God,  the  efllcacy  of  tlic  death  and  intercession  of 
Christ,  and  the  inhabitation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  certainly 
persevere  to  the  end  and  be  eternally  saved. 

These  are  some  of  the  essential  and  characteristic  princi- 


132  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

pies  of  our  religious  system.  If  any  man  believe  them, 
there  is  no  danger  of  his  quarrelling  with  our  Confession  of 
Faith;  of  his  objecting  to  its  extent,  or  the  minuteness 
of  its  details.  It  is  against  what  we  deem  the  essential 
truths  of  Divine  revelation,  the  very  basis  of  our  religious 
system,  that  the  enemies  of  our  Confession  take  exception. 
Before  satisfaction  could  be  given  to  them,  we  must  cast 
away  what  we  consider  the  chief  excellence  and  glory  of 
scriptural  Divinity;  we  must  change  our  system  to  a  form 
as  remote  from  pure  Christianity,  as  the  wanderings  of  the 
human  imagination  are  from  the  infallible  dictates  of  Divine 
inspiration. 

In  framing  the  standards  of  the  Church,  every  reason- 
able allowance  ought  to  be  made  for  the  weakness  of  the 
human  understanding;  and  for  the  diversities  of  opinion 
which  are  unavoidable  among  men  of  independent  minds. 
A  determination  ought  not  to  be  attempted  of  questions  of 
no  importance,  or  of  doubtful  disputation,  concerning 
which  there  may  be  a  difference  among  men  who  agree 
in  the  main  points  of  Christianty.  It  is  highly  expedient, 
however,  that  every  religious  society  should  furnish  an  ex- 
hibition of  the  principal  articles  of  their  faith,  and  of  the 
rules  and  practices  prevalent  among  them.  By  these  sym- 
bols of  the  Church,  a  bond  of  association,  a  basis  of  agree- 
ment and  communion,  is  provided  among  the  members; 
a  fair  and  liberal  disclosure  is  made  to  the  world;  and  use- 
ful aids  are  furnished  in  subserviency  to  the  Scriptures, 
for  the  instruction  of  believers  and  of  their  children. 

But  the  most  important  ends  of  a  Confession  of  Faith  are 
not  to  be  attained,  unless  it  be  strictly  regarded  by  the 
community  in  which  it  is  adopted.  Will  the  creed  of  a 
Church  indicate  to  the  world  the  opinions  of  its  members, 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  133 

if  every  man  allow  himself  an  unlimited  license  in  the  re- 
ception and  interpretation  of  theological  doctrines?  Can 
any  harmony  of  judgment  or  sentiment  exist  in  such  a  com- 
munity? Is  not  the  bond  of  union  and  fellowship  virtually 
and  necessarily  broken,  by  such  unwarrantable  liberties? 

We  have  often  heard  of  such  a  state  of  things  in  the  secu- 
larized Church  establishments  of  Europe;  of  men  embrac- 
ing every  opportunity  to  impugn  the  very  doctrines  which 
theslandardsof  their  Church  pronounced  true  and  sacred:  and 
we  have  heard  of  it  with  amazement.  We  never  considered 
it  short  of  insincerity  and  treachery  of  the  most  malignant 
kind.  What  judgment,  then,  shall  we  form  of  the  same 
conduct  when  found  among  ourselves?  Shall  we  pronounce 
it  a  flagrant  breach  of  faith,  a  scandalous  dishonesty  in  the 
Churches  of  Europe,  but  quite  innocent  and  reputable  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  America?  It  is  not  to  be  de- 
nied, that  there  are  among  us  men  who  have  embraced  a 
scheme  subversive  of  the  known  and  established  profession 
of  the  community  to  which  they  belong;  who  do  not  hesi- 
tate to  use  the  language  of  disapprobation  and  contempt, 
when  speaking  of  the  doctrines,  which,  at  their  ordination, 
they  solemnly  declared  to  be  agreeable  to  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. However  this  conduct  may  appear  to  others,  to 
me,  it  seems  an  outrage  upon  the  rights  and  feelings  of  their 
fellow  members,  a  violation  of  the  fundamental  principle 
of  the  association,  and  a  gross  imposition  upon  the  world. 

It  may  indeed  be  alleged  by  these  men,  that  the  system 
of  doctrine  which  they  once  professed  to  believe,  has  fallen 
far  behind  the  improvements  of  the  age;  that  new  light  has 
lately  burst  upon  their  astonished  minds;  and  tiiat  it  is  un- 
reasonable and  impossible  to  cramp  the  expansive  energies 
19 


134  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

of  their  original  and  powerful  genius,  by  the  framework  of 
creeds  and  confessions. 

If  it  be  true,  that  the  new  light,  of  which  they  boast,  has 
enabled  them  to  detect  the  errors  of  all  former  times,  and 
to  make  improvements  in  divinity  far  beyond  the  attain- 
ments of  their  fathers;  if  it  be  admitted,  that  their  masterly 
intellects  have  proved  the  old  system  to  be  essentially  erro- 
neous, and  that  some  new  schem.e  is  alone  worthy  of  their 
high  approbation,  what  is  the  consequence?  What  course 
of  conduct  would  a  due  regard  to  sincerity  and  integrity 
dictate?  A  continuance  in  the  Church,  to  contradict  and  vilify 
its  acknowledged  doctrines?  Certainly  not.  Every  manly 
and  honourable  sentiment,  every  principle  of  consistency 
and  duty,  requires  them  to  withdraw  from  a  community 
whose  doctrines  they  think  proper  to  repudiate,  and  at- 
tempt to  bring  into  reproach.  They  may  advance  high 
pretensions  to  new  light,  and  an  improved  system  of  theo- 
logy; but  these  claims  cannot  be  made  whilst  they  retain 
their  connexion  with  the  Church,  whose  doctrines  they 
reject,  except  at  the  expense  of  every  title  to  fairness  and 
honesty.  We  admire  the  ingenuousness  of  a  man  who,  at 
every  hazard,  separates  himself  from  a  community,  when 
dissatisfied  with  its  principles;  we  detest  the  baseness 
which  can  convert  office  and  standing,  in  any  society,  to  the 
destruction  of  its  vital  interests.  Such  a  course  deserves 
the  indignant  rebuke  of  an  offended  community,  and  the 
severe  disapprobation  of  all  honourable  men.  Every  reli- 
gious denomination  has  an  interest  in  stamping  the  m.ark 
of  condemnation  upon  a  procedure  so  remote  from  all  fair 
and  honourable  dealing.  The  common  sentiments  of  man- 
kind pronounce  it  uncandid,  offensive,  and  wrong.  If  any 
man  disapprove  the  constitution  of  his  Church,  let  him,  be- 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  136 

fore  he  permits  himself  to  impugn  it,  renounce  a  profession 
which  lie  knows  to  be  neither  cordial  nor  sincere. 

It  is  well  known  that  opinions  are  entertained  in  some 
portions  of  our  Church,  very  different  from  what  we  are 
taught  in  our  sound  and  scriptural  standards.  These  dif- 
ferencesare  neither  few  nor  unimportant.  If  adopted-,  they 
would  be  fatal  to  the  venerable  system  of  truth,  which  we 
have  received  from  our  fathers,  and  which  we  believe  to  be 
founded  on  the  word  of  God.  The  covenant  made  with 
Adam,  is  exploded.  The  doctrines  of  redemption  and  justi- 
fication are  moulded  into  a  form,  in  which  we  can  discern 
scarcely  a  lineament  of  their  former  perfection  and  glory. 
The  ability  of  fallen,  sinful  man,  is  maintained  to  be  ample 
and  universal;  whilst  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
limited  to  the  presentation  of  truth  to  the  mind,  by  the  ex- 
ternal instrumentalities  of  the  Gospel.  These  are  some  of 
the  changes,  which  are  so  zealously  recommended  to  our 
acceptance,  and  which  are  so  confidently  pronounced  im- 
provements in  theology.  When  such  innovations  arc  at- 
tempted, the  duty  of  all  who  know  and  love  the  truth,  can- 
not be  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  Has  the  Lord  Jesus  made 
us  acquainted  with  the  glorious  and  precious  doctrines  of 
his  word?  and  can  we  be  indifferent  about  their  reception 
and  success  in  the  world?  Shall  we  have  no  zeal  for  the  sup- 
pression of  baleful  error?  Shall  we  do  nothing  to  discoun- 
tenance a  presumptuous  and  dishonest  departure  from  the 
acknowledged  doctrines  of  the  Church  to  which  we  belong, 
by  those,  who,  above  all  others,  are  bound  to  be  faithful? 

The  attachment  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Scot- 
land and  Ireland  to  the  genuine  doctrines  of  their  eccle- 
siastical standards,  has  proved  to  be  powerful  and  most 
salutary.     It  has  done  much   to  purify  these  communities 


136  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

from  the  pestilent  influence  of  heresy.  The  former  un-' 
soundness  of  some  of  their  ministers  is  well  known:  and 
nothing  has  contributed  more  to  preserve  those  churches 
from  total  corruption  and  apostacy,  than  their  firm  adher- 
ence to  their  excellent  and  scriptural  standards.  A  deter- 
mination has  been  evinced,  to  assert  the  authority  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Church,  and  to  compel  the  patrons  of  dif- 
ferent schemes  to  seek  their  sphere  of  action  elsewhere. 

American  Presbyterians!  Here  are  examples  worthy  of 
your  imitation.  It  is  becoming  and  right  to  emulate  the 
commendable  fidelity  and  zeal  of  others,  in  behalf  of  the 
truth;  and  the  happy  success  which  has  crowned  the  efforts 
of  your  transatlantic  brethren,  may  well  serve  to  stimulate 
your  exertions.  It  is  animating,  it  is  delightful,  to  behold 
the  noble  stand  taken  by  some  of  the  British  churches,  in 
defence  of  truth,  and  in  opposition  to  error  and  delusion. 
May  we  not  hope,  that  at  length  the  same  spirit  will  be 
awakened  in  our  Church;  that  a  determination  will  be 
manifested  to  preserve  inviolate  the  pure  doctrines  of  Scrip- 
ture and  of  our  Confession;  and  that  a  state  of  things  will 
soon  exist,  in  which  heresies,  whether  old  or  new,  can  no 
longer  be  avowed  and  propagated  with  impunity  by  men, 
who,  to  the  sin  of  disseminating  false  doctrine,  superadd 
that  of  contradicting  their  profession,  and  -infringing  their 
solemn  engagements. 

Nothing  operates  more  powerfully  to  destroy  the  peaqe 
and  prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  to  excite  wrath,  and 
strife,  and  every  evil  work,  than  heretical  departure  from 
the  truths  of  the  Gospel.  Would  it  not  be  strange,  if  the 
guardians  of  the  purity  and  welfare  of  the  Church  had  no 
authority  to  arrest  an  evil  so  formidable  and  ruinous?  The 
Scriptures  recognize  this  authority;  and  not  only  so,  they 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  137 

enjoin  its  exercise  as  an  indispensable  duty.  We  are  com- 
manded to  avoid,  to  reject,  to  cut  od",  those  who  corrupt 
and  trouble  the  Church,  by  the  propagation  of  false  doctrine. 
We  are  not  permitted  to  bestow  upon  them  the  least  coun- 
tenance, mucli  less  to  receive  them  to  our  fellowship,  or  to 
retain  them  in  it.  "If  there  come  any  unto  you,  and  bring 
not  this  doctrine,  receive  him  not  into  your  house,  neither 
bid  him  God  speed:  for  he  that  biddeth  him  God  speed  is 
partaker  of  his  evil  deeds. " 

In  tlie  infliction  of  discipline,  on  account  of  error,  the 
judicatories  of  the  Church  must  be  regulated  by  her  estab- 
lished standards.  Wc  maintain,  indeed,  that  the  Scrip- 
tures are  .the  supreme  and  ultimate  rule  of  truth  and  duty, 
and  that  the  subordinate  standards  of  the  Church  ought  to 
be  framed  in  >trict  accordance  with  the  suggestions  of  In- 
spiration. If  they  be  not,  they  ought  to  be  thrown  aside, 
or  corrected.  But  whilst  the  Confession  of  Faith  retains 
its  authority,  no  member  of  our  community  is  permitted  to 
appeal  from  its  decision.  It  is  the  proper  and  immediate 
criterion  of  truth  and  error,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
No  man  has  a  riglit  to  complain,  if  he  be  judged  by  the 
law  under  wliicli  he  has  placed  himself.  If  he  become  dis- 
satisfied with  it,  he  is  at  perfect  liberty  to  withdraw  beyond 
the  reach  of  its  jurisdiction.  We  must  pronounce  that  to 
be  truth  which  accords  with  our  standards,  and  that  to  be 
error  which  contradicts  them. 

The  most  consummate  address  has  always  been  em- 
ployed by  the  advocates  of  error,  to  cover  their  advance, 
and  to  screen  themselves  from  deserved  rebuke.  At 
one  time,  you  will  find  them  attempting  to  bring  for- 
ward their  new  divinity,  during  the  heat  and  tumult  of  a 
religious    awakening;    at    another    time,    they    are    seen 


138  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

labouring  to  recommend  it,  by  subtle  argument  and  meta- 
physical reasoning.  If  one  of  these  men  be  called  to  an  ac- 
count for  his  heretical  opinions,  he  is  found  ready  to  de- 
fend himself  with  a  world  of  explanations.  He  positively 
asserts,  that  he  differs  from  you  only  in  words,  or  in  points 
not  essential.  He  declares  that  he  believes  the  same  doc- 
trines which  others  believe,  and  that  he  differs  only  in  his 
explanation  of  them :  although  it  is  evident,  that  what  he  calls 
his  explanation,  is  a  flat  contradiction  of  the  doctrine. 
Much  is  heard  of  the  spirit  and  improvements  of  the 
age,  of  new  light,  and  more  liberal  ideas  in  religion;  of 
the  importance  of  being  divested  of  prejudice  and  a  servile 
dependence  upon  authority.  It  is  enough  to  excite  our 
amazement,  if  not  our  indignation,  to  see  a  youth  whose 
attention  has  been  directed  to  religious  subjects  only  a  few 
years,  perhaps  m.onths,  undertaking  to  depreciate  the  at- 
tainments of  the  Church  in  all  former  times;  and  to  set 
himself  in  advance  of  the  most  learned  and  able  divines 
which  the  world  has  ever  known.  But  surely  to  talk  about 
the  improvements  of  the  age,  will  not  cover  the  arrogance 
and  absurdity  of  such  pretensions.  Improvements  of  the  age! 
Improvements  in  divinity!  Has  any  new  revelation  been 
received  from  heaven?  Can  any  important  truth  be  named, 
to  which  the  Church,  in  former  ages,  has  been  a  stranger? 
Nothing  of  the  kind.  In  what,  then,  consist  the  boasted  im- 
provements in  divinity,  of  which  we  hear  so  much?  I  an- 
swer, in  the  revival  of  old  and  exploded  errors,  upon  which 
the  Church  has  long  since,  and  repeatedly,  placed  the  mark 
of  reprobation.  Our  modern  discoveries  are  derived,  not 
from  the  lively  oracles,  but  from  the  graves  of  Pelagius, 
Socinus,  and  other  heretics. 

In  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  call  upon  all 


OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  jSg 

the  members  of  our  Church,  deeply  and  solemnly  to  con- 
sider the  present  slate  of  things  among  us.  At  no  time  in 
the  liistory  of  our  community,  has  the  aspect  of  affairs  ap- 
peared so  dark  and  appalling.  The  tide  of  delusion  and 
innovation  has  been  advancing  upon  us  with  portentous  im- 
petuosity, threatening  to  sweep  away  all  tliat  we  venerate 
as  excellent,  and  Ijvely,  and  scriptural,  in  our  doctrines  and 
institutions.  We  beseech  every  Presbyterian,  therefore,  to 
awake  to  the  dangers  which  threaten  the  purity,  the  peace, 
and  the  highest  welfare  of  our  denomination;  and  to  repel 
every  attempt  which  may  be  made,  to  sot  aside,  or  mutilate, 
the  genuine  and  approved  system  which  we  at  present  enjoy. 
We  ought  to,  and  I  hope  we  do,  love  and  revere  the  establish- 
ed principles  of  our  standards.  We  know  that  under  their 
influence,  our  society  has  greatly  prospered;  and  it  should  be 
our  ardent  wish,  that  they  may  be  transmitted  unimpaired  to 
our  children.  How  then  can  any  be  unconcerned,  whilst 
many  among  us  are  labouring  to  bring  them  into  disrepute, 
and  to  substitute  another,  and,  in  many  essential  respects,  an 
opposite  system,  in  their  place?  We  entreat  you,  then,  for 
your  own  sakcs,  for  the  sake  of  your  children,  for  the  regard 
you  have  for  the  honour  of  Christ,  the  advancement  of  truth, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  to  beware  of  giving  encour- 
agement, in  any  way,  to  the  promulgation  of  notions  unknown 
to  our  orthodox  and  scriptural  Confession  of  Faith.  The 
indignant  rebukes  of  the  churches,  ought  to  meet  every  at- 
tempt to  introduce  another  Gospel,  in  the  place  of  that 
which  you  have  learned  from  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ. 
We  call  upon  the  ruling  elders,  the  guardians  of  the  pu- 
rity and  welfare  of  our  churches,  duly  to  reflect  upon  ihe 
high  obligations  which  devolve  upon  them  at  this  eventful 
juncture.     Beloved  brethren,  it  is  your  province  and  duty 


140  SPRUCE  STREET  LECTURES. 

to  see  that  the  people  under  your  care  be  instructed  in  the 
pure  doctrines  of  the  word  of  God,  and  that  the  acknow- 
ledged principles  of  our  Church  be  respected  and  maintain- 
ed. It  belongs  to  you  to  prevent,  so  far  as  your  authority 
extends,  the  propagation  of  a  system  of  opinions  unknown 
to  our  standards,  disowned  by  the  Church  of  God  in  all  past 
ages,  essentially  repugnant  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  de- 
structive to  all  true  and  scriptural  religion.  Much  is  expected 
from  your  firmness,  your  soundness  in  the  faith,  and  your  just 
sense  of  the  duties  which  belong  to  your  station.  We  look 
to  you  as  most  likely,  under  God,  to  sustain  the  cause  of 
evangelical  truth,  and  to  arrest  the  tide  of  novelty  and  de- 
lusion, which,  for  some  time  past,  has  been  advancing  within 
our  limits. 

Ministers  of  the  everlasting  Gospel,  we  call  upon  you  to 
exert  the  authority,  which  you  have  received  from  the 
Lord  Jesus,  in  defence  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  prevention 
of  error,  delusion,  and  discord,  in  the  Churches.  To  you, 
especially,  it  pertains  to  provide  that  the  people  be  fed  with 
knowledge  and  understanding;  and  to  see  that  the  poison  of 
heresy  be  not  administered  to  them,  instead  of  the  bread  of 
life.  When  men  corrupt  the  Gospel,  and  distract  the 
Church  by  their  pernicious  innovations,  you  are  under  ob- 
ligation to  stay  the  plague,  and  to  restore  the  body  to  a 
sound  state,  by  the  use  of  discipline,  the  remedy  which  Di- 
vine wisdom  has  appointed.  In  the  discharge  of  this  high 
obligation,  you  are  required,  it  is  true,  to  act  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  Christian  meekness,  forbearance,  and  kindness: 
but  you  must  not  permit  a  feeling  of  tenderness,  or  a  dread 
of  opposition  and  censure,  to  deter  you  from  the  perform- 
ance of  an  indispensable,  although  an  unpleasant  duty. 
You  may  expect  to  incur  odium,  suspicion  and  reproach. 


OF  CirURCII  DISCIPLINE. 


141 


But,  being  actuated  by  a  pure  regard  to  the  honour  and 
command  of  God,  the  glorious  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  tlie 
best  interests  of  the  Church,  you  can  well  endure  them. 
To  the  sincerity  and  uprightness  of  your  intentions,  you 
will  have  a  witness  in  your  own  hearts — you  will  have  a 
witness  in  heaven.  JSIay  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  give 
you  light  and  direction  in  all  things;  and  enable  you,  with 
fidelity  and  firmness,  to  stand  for  God  and  truth;  and  to 
resist  the  progress  of  unscriptural  novelties,  and  the  en- 
croachment of  mischievous  errors. 

And  let  us  all,  my  beloved  hearers,  be  assured  that  we 
possess  a  spiritual  discernment  of  the  excellence  and  glory 
of  divine  "truth;  and  that  the  truth  has  made  us  free  from 
the  predominance  of  corrupt  desires  and  affections.  Unless 
we  have  come  to  Christ,  in  consequence  of  our  having  heard 
and  learned  of  the  Father;  unless  we  are  sanctified  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  through  the  truth,  a  mere  speculative  under- 
standing of  tlic  doctrines  of  religion  will  not  accomplish  our 
salvation.  Let  us  endeavour,  by  a  life  and  conversation 
becoming  the  Gospel,  to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Saviour  in  all  things,  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  may 
also  appear  with  him  in  glory. 


u 


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